A sod-cutting ceremony has taken place to mark the beginning of construction on a new £56 million school in Lurgan, Co Armagh.

The new campus for St Ronan's College, an amalgamation of three post-primary schools in the area, is expected to reach completion in Spring 2025. It will bring pupils from St Mary's High School, St Paul's Junior High School and St Michael's Grammar School together on one site.

Permanent Secretary at the Department of Education, Dr Mark Browne, was joined by Archbishop Eamon Martin, for the sod-cutting ceremony.

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Speaking following the ceremony, Dr Mark Browne said: "I welcomed the opportunity to join with School Governors, Trustees and representatives of the wider St Ronan's College community as they celebrated the start of the construction phase of their new school.

"This exciting project is the largest, single school build within the Department's major capital programme providing modern facilities for pupils and staff through significant capital investment of £56 million.

“It will bring the school together as one single campus and give everyone involved with the school an opportunity to further build their unique identity and ethos."

St Ronan's College has operated on a split since it was established in September 2015. These new works will accommodate up to 1,750 pupils on one single campus on the site of the former St Michael's Grammar School.